Fire-escape.



J. F. VICKERS.

FIRE ESGAPE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1913.

' 1,110,169. l Patented Sept.8,191h

VMI

ATTORNEYS J. P. VIGKERS. FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNB 24, 1913.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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UNITE@ STATES' PAENT FFCE.

JAMES FLOYD VIGKERS, 0F COLUSA, CALIFORNA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.

Be it known that l, JAMES FLornVicn- Ens, citizen of the United States, and a resident of Colusa, in the county of Colusa and Sta-te of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.-

lily invention is an improvement in fire escapes, and has for its object to provide an escape of the endless cable type, wherein the cable is supported on reel adjacent to a window or other opening in position to be unreeled, wherein means is provided for holding the cable in position to permit persons to affix themselves to one run of the cable, and wherein other means is provided for use by the persons desiring to escape, for connecting themselves to the said run of the cable, and wherein mechanism is provided in connection with the holding means for permitting the speed of -movement of the cable to be controlled.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing' the improved escape in position for use, Fig. 2 is a front view of the reel with the cable ready to be withdrawn, F ig. 3 is a similar' view with parts in section, Fig. 4c is a section on ythe line 4 1 of Fig. 3, F ig. 5 is a section through the holding mechanism, and Fig. 6

`is a perspective view of the supporting mechanism for the person escaping, and the clamping mechanism for engaging the cable.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises an endless cable 1 of suitable size and lenOth, the said cable passing over a grooved pulley 2, on a shaft 3, which is Iiournaled in bearings l in the arms 5 of a hanger, the body 6 of the hanger having a loop 7 for engagement by an eye 8 of a supi porting frame 9, in which is journaled a pulley 10. rllhe shaft is provided at one end with a crank 11 for convenience in rotating the same, and reels 12 and 12, which are secured to the shaft on each side of the pulley 2. rlhe pulley 2 is loose on the shaft, and the reels are rigidly connected to the shaft by means of set screws 13, the said set screws being threaded through extended hubs 14.- atthe outer ends of the reel and engaging the shaft. @ne of the reels is provided with a cylindrical extension 15 at its outer end, of the same diameter as the reel, and a brake band 16 encircles the said extensiomthe band being connected tothe Specicaton of Letters Eatent.

Application filed .Tune 2A, 1913.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914i.

Serial No. 775,456.

hanger as indicated at 17. The band 16 is thus tight enough to slightly slow the movement of the reels and to prevent the weight of the anchoring device from unwinding the i cable. Each of the reels 12 and 12EL is provided with a flange 18 and 19 at its ends, and the inner flanges 19 are provided with transverse grooves 20, for a purpose to be presently described.

The pulley 10 is preferably arranged to run on a track, the said track being constituted in the present instance by a cable 21, and the said cable is supported at or by the cornice 22 of the building in connection with which the escape is used. The track is so arranged that it extends above the windows, in order that the pulley and the hanger may be brought above any vertical row of windows. The cable is normally wound upon the reels, the said cable passing from the wheel 2 through the grooves 20, and then winding upon the reels in the same direction.

`lt will be evident thatwhen the cable 1 is wound up on the reels, therewill be a portion extending from one reel to the other, and this portion is engaged by the supporting mechanism, to be described. The said mechanism comprises a frame composed of parallel laterally spaced disks 23, the said disks being connected by integral webs 24 and 25, the said webs being diametrically opposite each other.

rlhe web 2-1 is provided with an eye which is engaged by a loop or bail 26, and the web 25 is provided with an internally threaded boss 27. A shaft 28 is arranged transversely of the frame, the said shaft being held in hubs or bosses 29 at the center of the disks 23, and a set screw 30 is threadedv through one ofthe bosses or hubs and is engaged with the shaft 28 to prevent rotation thereof. The ends of the shaft eX- tend beyond the disks as shown to form handles, for permitting two persons to hold the frame.

A grooved wheel or pulley 31 is journaled on the shaft between the disks, and the cable 1 passes over the wheel. A brake shoe 32 is arranged adjacent to the web 25 for engaging the periphery of the wheel or pulley 31, and a rod 33 is threaded to the boss 27, and has a rotatable connection with the shoe, as shown at 311 in Fig. 5. the screw `is provided with a cross head 35,

The outer end of building near an alley, or the track; may be arranged to move the device into the alley. rlhe reels are used only as a support for the rope or cable When not in use. Willen in use, the cable is supported by the pulley 2 at its upper end. When not in use, the cable is engaged With the grooves Q0 of the reels, and the reels are rotated by means of the crank arm ll, to Wind up the cable. rEhe cable is Wound up until the supporting fraine of the controlling device is adjacent to the reels.

I claim:

l. A device of the character specified, comprising an endless cable, a support for he cable, said support comprising a grooved Wheel over which the cable passes, a shaft on which the .vheel is journaled, reels on the shaft on each side of the pulley for receiving the cable when not in use, and an an chcring and controlling device for engagement by the cable, said device comprising a wheel over Which the cable passes, a supporting frame for the Wheel, said frame having oppcsitely extending handles, a brake shoe for engaging the Wheel, means for moving the shoe toward and from the Wheel, and a belt having its ends detachably connected with the said frame.

2. A. device of the character specified, comprising an endless cable, a support for the cable, said support comprising a grcoved Wheel over which the cable passes, a shaft on which the Wheel is journaled, reels on the shaft on each side of the pulley for receiving the cable when not in use, and an anchoring and controlling device for engagement by the cable, said device comprising a Wheel over which the cable passes, a supporting frame having handles, a brake mov able toward and from the Wheel, and means for operating the brake.

in which the Wheel is journaled and pro-4 vided 'with handles for permitting the frame to be held, and brake mechanism in connection with the frame and coperating with the Wheel. a

4. A device of the character specified, comprising an endless cable, a track, a hanger in which the Wheel is journaled, reels coaxial With the Wheel at each side thereof for holding the cable when not in use, a crank connected with the reels for rotating the same to Wind np the cable, and an anchoring and controlling device comprising a Wheel over which the cable passes, a frame in Which the Wheel is journaled, said frame having means .for permitting the same to be held, and a brake in connection with the frame.

5. in a device of the character specified, the combination with the endless cable 'and the Twheel over Which the cable passes, of means for supporting the cable when not in use, said means comprising a reel on each side of the Wheel, a shaft upon which the reels and the Wheel are journaled, said reels havino` flanges at their inner ends, and the flanges having notches for permitting the passage of the cable to Wind upon the reels, and a hanger for the shaft.

JBIES FLOYD VCKERS.

llitnesses SHIRLEY LOPEZ, C. l). STANTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

